They continued up to the next floor where they entered a large japanese style room. In the middle was a man sitting before a grill as something cooked.
"This smell…" Cheetah started.
"It's oden...I was just grilling some as a celebration for this strange place." the man said as he quickly started eating some.
"Who are you?" Miriam asked.
"He's definitely not someone we've seen before." Hope said. "He's a samurai for sure though."
"Weird...feels like I've seen him before." Franky said. "But where have...Oh...I know you! You were on his ship!"
"Huh? Ah...I thought you seemed familiar. You've grown since that time in Water 7. Feels like it's been ages since I went on that final adventure with him." the man said.
"Water 7? Wait a second. Who are you?" David demanded.
"Me...I am simply a samurai of Wano. I am Oden." the man said.
"Whoa, hold on!" Hope said. "By Oden, you don't mean THAT same Oden do you?"
"Hope, are you saying this guy is THE Kozuki Oden? The one from the other Wano who was mentioned?" Akane asked.
"It seems that way. I never thought we'd meet him in person." Cheetah said.
"I'm guessing this is something we missed." Ace said.
"You have no idea." Hope said. "I curiously did some research on this guy. His history's nuts! He was part of Roger's crew, picked a fight with Whitebeard when he was still young… and he gave up his life to save his fellow samurai from Kaido's judgement, by flinging himself into a giant pot of boiling oil!"
"Seriously? That's insane!" David said. "And that's coming from me of all people."
"Yeah...and he said this line when he met his end at Kaido's hand. What was it…" Hope said.
"Ah...It was this." Oden said as he posed. "My name is Oden...and I was born to boil!"
"Yeah! That was it!" Hope said. "You are a legend!"
"That's quite the feat." Ace said.
"But… why are you an opponent here in this dungeon, Master Oden?" Hope respectfully asked.
"Simply put...I am here because I am." Oden said. "Besides...I want to make sure those who want to open Wano's borders have the mettle."
"You wish to test us." Miriam said.
"It makes sense. If we want to challenge Kaido and hope to free Wano from his oppression, we have to prove ourselves against the guy who resisted him before." Hope said.
"I already fought Mitsunari. So, I'm afraid I'm out." David said.
"You sure, Dave? I mean, you were the one who Orochi placed a hit on." Sachiko said.
"That's fine. My followers will more than likely beat him to that snake in the end." Oden said with a hearty laugh. "That's how much faith I have in them."
"Loyal to your men even upon death, huh? I respect that." David said.
"Indeed, their lives mattered more than your own, and you went to great lengths to protect them." Miriam said.
"Yes...but now...this is a time for battle." Oden said, drawing his two swords. "Now! Who shall face me?! I want to see the potential of those who will bring Wano's age of oppression to its end, and blow the doors to its borders wide open!"
"Very well, I shall fight you in my lord's stead." Kabuki said.
"And I'll be fightin' with ya, Kabuki!" Gemini said.
"Hmm...I refuse this!" Oden declared. "Women like you two...have no right to fight."
"No, you misunderstand. After an encounter with my lord, I have sworn my eternal servitude to him, and am willing to accept any burden in his name, come what may." Kabuki said.
"Hmm...you I will be willing to battle. But you...please sheath your blade and walk away." Oden said to Gemini.
"Well, can't battle em all." Gemini said sheathing her blade. "Good luck, Kabuki."
"Don't worry, Gemini. You'll get the next one." Sectonia said.
"Now...the battle begins!" Oden said as he jumped at Kabuki said infused his swords with Haki. "Oden Two Sword Style...Paradise Waterfall!" he said swinging them diagonally as Kabuki ducked as part of her hair got cut off along with a large slash in the wall.
"This man… He is really strong. I mustn't let my guard down, even for a second." Kabuki said as she took off her hairband, letting the rest of her hair down.
"Now we're going to have fun." Oden said crossing his swords. "Oden Two Sword Style...Gun Modoki!" he said charging at her.
Kabuki acted quickly as she blocked with a hidden knife as she jumped over him.
"Ha...impressive." Oden said as the two crossed blades with one another for quite a while. "Now...one final attack. Oden Two Sword Style...Paradise Totsuka!" he said attack with an x shaped slash attack.
Kabuki was able to jump over as she managed to land a hit on Oden's chest. Oden simply glared before starting to laugh.
"Uh...are you all right?" Jexi asked.
"If even this girl can land a strike on me...then I feel assured about Wano's future." Oden said.
"So our worth is proven then." Kabuki said.
"Yes...but...something must be amended." Oden said, snapping his fingers as something dashed from the shadows and passed Zoro.
"Huh...what was…" Zoro said before realizing something. "My Shusei!"
"It's gone?" Gemini asked.
"That sword was stolen from Wano many years ago. It's only right that it gets returned to its native land." Oden said. "However...I will not let you leave empty handed." he said, sticking one of his own swords into the ground. "This sword is known as Enma...through proper training...it can become a black blade like Shusei was."
"Hmm?" Zoro pondered as he picked it up as he felt his energy being drained from it. "The heck? It's sucking my Haki." he said before unleashing its power as it cut a larger gap into the wall.
"Yes...it'll do that until you get a better handle of it." Oden said. "It was with both that and my other sword...I inflicted the only scar Kaido ever had."
"Whoa! You did that? You wounded the Beast King?!" Ethox asked.
"I told you this guy was legendary." Hope said. "With this sword, and what you told us Oden… it makes me believe that Kaido can actually be beaten."
"I may be long gone but the only way the world can change…" Oden said as he started to vanish. "Is if Wano opens its borders to the world."
"Don't worry...we'll make sure that dream comes true." Jexi said.
"I'm sure you will. Now...as I go...all I say is this. My name was Oden...and I was born to boil!" he said before vanishing completely.
"Do not worry, Master Kozuki… We will liberate Wano, I swear it on my honor." David said.
"But for now...we continue the climb." Jexi said.